Man shot dead at end of carnival

Violence marred the close of the Notting Hill carnival when a man was shot dead amid hundreds of revellers on the fringes of the west London event.

Bystanders scattered as the gunman opened fire at point blank range near Kensal Green station in west London at 10.20pm on Monday.

A police spokesman said the victim was at a nearby street party when he got involved in a row with a group of about 10 men. Firearms were produced and shots fired. Witnesses heard "three huge bangs." The victim was taken to Central Middlesex hospital but died 45 minutes later from a single gunshot wound.

The gunman is thought to be in his 40s, his victim in his 20s. Both were black, and officers from Operation Trident, Scotland Yard's special unit on gun crime in the black community, are investigating.

Detective Superintendent Rick Turner, heading the inquiry, said: "This appears to be an argument that has tragically resulted in firearms being produced and a young man losing his life."

Previous carnivals have been marred by violence. In 2000, two men were murdered and 11 injured in stabbings.

More than 750,000 people attended the two-day festival, during which 167 people were arrested, mainly for drugs, drunkenness and public order offences.